Refurbishment works in July took a big step forward as ‘painting pods’ were installed on the bridge chains. These pods provide enclosed platforms for individual workers to get up close to the chains, safely removing and collecting loose paint and preparing the surfaces for a fresh coat.
The first section of the chains at Leigh Woods and Clifton have already been jetwashed and given three coats of paint to allow the engineers to inspect the finish and ensure the colours are a good match. All ironwork is painted with a coat of primer (dark grey) followed by undercoat (grey-black) and top coat (the bridge’s signature flake grey). Visit the bridge now and you will see painters in orange high vis working at height almost every day applying these colours!
In August, road closures will allow the installation of additional painting pods to work on chains below a height of 4 metres at both ends of the bridge and in the centre of the span where the chains curve down.
- The bridge will be closed to vehicles from 7.00pm on Friday 2nd August to 7.00am on Monday 5th August. During this closure, painting pods will be fixed onto the main span in the centre of the bridge and access for this is required from the roadway. Excavations will also take place in the roadway at Leigh Woods for cable installation, and once completed the road will resurfaced. Several caps (which cover the end of the bolts or pins connecting the chain links) will be removed to inspect the condition of the iron pins underneath, and at the same time testing of the exposed ends of the chain links will take place. This work can only be completed from the road side as the bolt heads are on the footway.
- Further closures for vehicles and pedestrians take place on Friday 9th August and Saturday 10th August from 6pm to midnight for Balloon Fiesta Night Glows. During these closures, the complete length of the chains will be jetwashed in preparation for painting; Scaffolding systems will be moved and reinstalled; and inspections of the caps, pins and chain links will continue.
Painting of both sides of the parapet girders (which run along the outer side of each footway) continues on the North (closed) side of the bridge. Tests have been conducted into salt levels (as the River Avon is tidal the Avon Gorge is considered a marine environment) and climate. The thickness of the paint is measured using a device called an elcometer. This ensures that the iron has been properly and uniformly coated.
Cabling works continued in both towers, and are expected to be completed by the end of September. Cable ducts were installed to ensure that all wiring is kept neatly in place, and old redundant wires are being removed. Once this work has been completed, all the scaffolding which accesses the towers will be removed – you may notice that some scaffolding on the Clifton side has already been taken down.